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With a large crowd gathered and the night growing darker, even though she tried her best to carve a path out of the crowd, the woman stumbled on a raised corner of a cobblestone after taking a few steps, tumbling heavily to the ground.
“Quick, catch that woman, she’s the abductor!” Jiang Mixia shouted.
The authorities acted swiftly, managing to pin the struggling woman down as she tried to get up.
The onlookers, once again stunned, watched the scene unfold.
The middle-aged woman accused the young lady of being an abductor.
The young lady claimed her mother was trying to force her into a remarriage for money, even considering selling her child.
Now, the young lady accused the middle-aged woman of being an abductor.
…
Confusion reigned!
Even the officers who arrived in response to the commotion were a bit perplexed. After apprehending the woman, they turned to Jiang Mixia and the accompanying Song Jingyun, seeking clarification on the situation.
After being apprehended, the woman realized there was no way to escape. Under the questioning and intimidation by the authorities, she confessed everything.
Indeed, she was a kidnapper. She found the well-dressed, seemingly well-cared-for toddler of about one year old attractive and planned to abduct him to sell to wealthy women in need of a child.
Having drugged the child to make him sleep, she intended to pass off as his grandmother, a claim that usually went unquestioned.
However, while on her way to meet her accomplice and figuring out how to sell the child, she accidentally bumped into someone who saw through her plan, leading to her capture.
Upon learning about her accomplice, a group set out to find other kidnappers.
Meanwhile, a few officers took Jiang Mixia, Song Jingyun, and the unconscious child to the county yamen to document the incident.
“How did you discern that the woman was a kidnapper?” County Magistrate Tang Zhi inquired, surprised. When he first saw the woman, he assumed the child belonged to her, making it challenging to immediately ascertain her guilt as a kidnapper, a fact that puzzled the constables.
“The woman and the child collided with us and fell to the ground,” Jiang Mixia explained. “If she was truly the child’s grandmother or a caretaker, she would have been very concerned about the child’s well-being, checking for injuries. But she didn’t even glance at the child and seemed focused on leaving hastily. Something felt off to me.”
“In addition, the fall was quite heavy. If the child was just sleeping normally, they would have woken up. However, at that moment, the child remained unconscious, which seemed suspicious. When I stopped the woman and questioned if she was a kidnapper, her agitated response confirmed my suspicions.”
“Indeed,” County Magistrate Tang Zhi nodded approvingly. “You observed very keenly.”
And displayed great courage.
Ordinary people, even if sensing something was amiss, would typically prefer to avoid getting involved. Tang Zhi couldn’t help but admire the young lady before him.
Of course, the young man who promptly alerted them was also commendable.
After understanding the situation, having Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun imprint their testimonies, County Magistrate Tang Zhi praised them and escorted them out of the county yamen, arranging for the next steps.
The boy remained unconscious, requiring a visit to the doctor. Posters would be put up to identify the lost child’s family. Additionally, once the kidnappers were apprehended, thorough interrogation would follow to uncover further clues regarding missing children.
County Magistrate Tang Zhi quickly devised a plan and instructed his staff to get to work.
After leaving the county yamen, Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun headed towards the inn.
It was getting late, and it was time to rest. However…
Rubbing his stomach, Song Jingyun suggested, “After all that commotion, I’m hungry. Wife, how about we go have a bowl of wonton soup?”
Jiang Mixia hesitated.
Her husband’s digestion was truly remarkable.
They stopped at a lively wonton soup stall by the roadside and ordered two bowls.
Jiang Mixia only ate half a bowl, while Song Jingyun finished one and a half bowls.
After satisfying their hunger, they returned to the inn, freshened up, and rested.
Meanwhile, the yamen was bustling with activity.
By the time the child was examined by the physician, he had woken up. Despite the many people surrounding him, the toddler, over a year old, did not cry but instead laughed, surprising County Magistrate Tang Zhi and others.
However rare the situation was, the priority was to swiftly locate the child’s family.
Given the child’s decent attire and the exquisite craftsmanship of the small gold locket around his neck, he didn’t seem like an ordinary child.
Just as County Magistrate Tang Zhi and the others were pondering how to proceed, County Governor Lin hurriedly arrived.
“Why have you come at this hour?” County Magistrate Tang Zhi greeted him promptly.
“The wife of Minister Cao, the minister of Ministry of civil affairs, returned to her maternal home to accompany her youngest sister for marriage. Passing through our county, their young master suddenly went missing. Minister Cao is known for his moral rectitude and aversion to concubinage. His wife, after years of nurturing, finally bore this only son, a cherished treasure. With the young master missing, Madam Cao fainted in distress,” explained County Governor Lin anxiously.
“The steward from the Cao household informed me and urged us to swiftly search for the young master’s whereabouts in the county. They’ve sent a few capable maids who regularly attend to the young master to assist in identification.”
“You must lead the officers to search every house diligently. We must find the young master Cao without fail!” urged County Governor Lin.
Minister Cao’s aunt was a favored consort of the current emperor. Although Minister Cao’s father had retired due to health reasons, he had previously held the prestigious position of Minister of Revenue. Minister Cao himself, being young and promising, held the emperor’s favor, rising to the rank of minister at a young age—a rare achievement in the court.
Now, with Minister Cao’s beloved son missing in the county under his jurisdiction, failure to find him would jeopardize County Magistrate Lin’s position!
County Governor Lin was in a state of agitation, akin to an ant on a hot pan.
The young master from the Cao family?
County Magistrate Tang Zhi’s eyes lit up. “Quick, have the Cao household’s people come and see if this is their young master.”
With that, he lifted the nearby boy into his arms.
The child, thinking County Magistrate Tang Zhi was playing with him, chuckled happily.
The steward from the Cao household, following behind County Governor Lin, hurried closer. When he saw clearly under the candlelight that the boy County Magistrate Tang Zhi was holding was indeed their young master, tears streamed down his face. “This is indeed our young master!”
“Thank the heavens, the young master is safe and sound. Otherwise, I would truly have no face to see the young master and madam!” he exclaimed emotionally.